I lived in NJ (by Asbury Park) 2 minutes from the beach. I really did enjoy NJs beaches, Florida really doesn't have a lot of leniency when it comes to beaches. You need to park in designated areas for the most part (not just pull down someones side street), a lot close at dusk so you can't go after nightfall (in NJ you could for the most part), and they don't allow dogs, within a 10mi radius of my home there were at least 4 separate places you could take your dog off leash to the beach. Also it was easy to find a non tourist infested beach spot that you could just walk and let your dog run and not worry about them walking up to someone tanning. Though, from memorial day to the end of august even the secluded beaches got a little packed. Winter was really the only time you had the beach to yourself in New Jersey. You just had to bundle up really good

. And NJ beaches had sea glass which was always fun to look for.